DHARAMSHALA: A former monk from the Karma monastery has set himself on fire in Chamdo in eastern Tibet on 1 December and his condition is unknown, reports coming out of Tibet say. Tenzin Phuntsog, who is in his 40s, set himself on fire in Chamdo. He was taken away by the police and his whereabouts is not known. He and his wife Dolma have two sons and a daughter.

12 Tibetans who self immolated earlier this year have called for freedom, and the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to his people. Reports say that monks from Karma monastery in Chamdo were not allowed to leave the monastery at the time. The Chinese government has enforced intense security restrictions in Chamdo since the widespread peaceful protests shook Tibet in 2008, a US-based human rights organisation said.

The region has become a frontline for the security forces and the imposition of ‘patriotic education’ to stifle the genuine grievances of the Tibetan people, it added. The Central Tibetan Administration has been urging the Chinese government to stop it’s repressive policy on Tibetans and allow more freedom of religion and speech. The Kashag had appealed to China that it should accept independent delegations and media to travel to examine the situation and allow medical teams to give treatment to those hurt after self-immolations.